League needs strong leadership, says Sterling

RUGBY LEAGUE: Former Kangaroo and television commentator Peter Sterling has doubts about John Grant's ability to end the battle between the NRL clubs and the Australian Rugby League Commission.

But Sterling can't see anybody else in line to replace the commission chairman.

Relationships between league central and clubs have reached crisis point after the governing body last week reneged on a funding model agreed to a year ago.

The clubs passed a no-confidence motion in Grant last week.

"It's certainly not a great look when you get a no-confidence call from the clubs," Sterling said.

"But the other thing too, if you're moving somebody from a particular position, you've got to have somebody better to come in mind.

"I haven't seen anybody else mentioned in that regard.

"I'm not happy to see the game not being spoken about in a great light at the moment, but I do have confidence in plenty of people in there in the hierarchy that we can nail this on the head and move on."

Clubs are expected to be invited back to the negotiation table later this week, however some chairs have already vowed boycotting the meeting, refusing to re-open talks with Grant.

It is believed clubs are now moving to call for an extraordinary general meeting in an attempt to dump the most powerful administrator in the game.

Sterling said the events of the past week were a disappointing look for the game.

"The one thing, when the Commission was appointed, was we wanted to avoid a disconnect between the hierarchy and the clubs," Sterling said.

"And from what I read - again I don't know the inside story to it - there appears to be a disconnect there that we need to sort out very quickly.

"We need some leadership now - some strong leadership - especially after what has happened over the last week."